#letter50

Hiiii!!!!  

GOOO BRONCOS! I knew they would win!!! :)

Following the Example of the Savior

JESSICA IS GETTING BAPTIZED SATURDAY!!! She will be confirmed right after we have our stake conference with Elder Holland! I'm so overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. I love her with my whole heart! It has been amazing to see the light of the gospel change her life. I remember the first time that we visited her she had a huge list of questions. She kept saying "I'm just not sure". However, with each lesson the list of questions got smaller. Her doubts began to diminish. Soon the questions and doubts were replaced with a confirmation that she knew that this was THE church of Jesus Christ. She would tell us when she could literally FEEL that it was true and she had a smile from ear to ear. She couldn't keep the excitement in. True happiness is within the teachings of Jesus Christ. We can find answers to our questions, purpose to our lives, and an understanding of our potential and blessings that await us.

I have learned so much from Jessica since I met her for the first time. First, is her example of FAITH. When she was first learning about the gospel, she had doubts. It was all new to her and different than what she had been taught all her life, however, she was diligent with praying and reading the scriptures. When we would leave an assignment in the Book of Mormon, she would ask for 2. When she had question, she would pray and believed that she would receive and answer.She is a pure example that the requirement to ask in faith is a dual obligation to both plead and to perform, the requirement to communicate and to act. She always has believed from the moment that I met her that God answers our prayers. I know it is because of HER FAITH that the Holy Ghost was able to resolve those questions that she had. 

I also admire her for her STRENGTH. We have seen her face the opposition from day 1 that we visited her. Some from the people that she is loves most. However, she has held on and continued to do what she knew she needed to know for herself. I know that with time her family will also accept the gospel. Her mom is going to come to her baptism Saturday! We are praying that her dad and brother also come! She showed us a painting that she did of the Salt Lake Temple the first time we visited her. She thought it was the most beautiful place that she had ever seen. I know with each day, she gets one step closer to being able to enter. I can't wait for the day when she will be able to enter with her family and with her future husband!

I know that when we choose to follow Christ in faith rather than choosing another path out of fear, we are blessed with a consequence that is consistent with our choice. 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7)

FAITH in February brings MIRACLES in March! 

As a mission, we are working on exercising more faith! For the month of February we all chose a sacrifice that we would give up for February and March! I have reflected a lot on my personal faith this past week. I'm excited to strive to have greater faith in my Savior Jesus Christ. To have complete trust in him and to do my part to see His promised blessings become a reality in my life.  I'm so grateful for the many great examples of faith in my life. To my parents, my brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, priesthood leaders, other missionaries, friends and so many others. I know true faith MUST be centered in Jesus Christ. Faith is a principle of action and of power. It requires us TO DO, not merely to believe. It is literally a spiritual gift from God that comes through the Holy Ghost. It requires a correct understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ, His divine attributes and perfect character, His teachings, Atonement, Resurrection,and priesthood power. I know that it is through our obedience to these principles that we will develop COMPLETE TRUST in Him and His ordained servants and assurance of His promised blessings. 

"Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal reighteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws the greater will be the endowment of faith" 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

I know that no worldly thing that we have can give absolute assurance like the gospel of Jesus Christ can. There is no other foundation in life that can bring the same peace, joy, and hope. Even through those uncertain and difficult times, faith gives us hope. Parents can give their children education, lessons, athletics, the arts,and material possessions, but if we do not give them faith in Christ, we have given little. I'm truly grateful for parents who raised me with a clear understanding of who Jesus Christ is and for teaching me to have faith in him. 

Don't Prejudge

Never ever prejudge or judge, but always give each person the opportunity to be the best selves. Sometimes, that might just what someone needs...is someone to believe in them!

Honestly, I was really nervous to receive my new companion this change. I had heard several things about her that made me a little worried when I found out that she was going to be my companion.  I learned an important lesson though...to never ever prejudge. She is wonderful! She is nothing that I heard! We get along great and she is a wonderful missionary! I really do love her! I found this hymn that is amazing: "Let each man learn to know himself, 

To gain that knowledge let him labor, 

Improve those failings in himself

Which he condemns so in his neighbor.

How lenient our own faults we view, 

And conscience's voice adeptly smother

Yet, oh harshly we review

The selfsame failings in another!

So first improve yourself today 

And then improve your friends tomorrow!!! 

                              We live by this beach with black sand

                                      Store with my name on it

Hey Family, 

    What's going on? I am happy and good here in Lomas. We had a good week! We felt like we didn't progress as much as we wanted to as missionaries this week but we are going to adjust and continue pushing along. My new companion Hermana Garner is from Pocatello, Idaho. She lives in the country right by the snake river and the Tetons. Dad, you were inspired when you put a picture of that in my room! She will finish her mission here in Lomas. She has been on her mission for 15 months! I might be with her as she finishes her mission. We'll see if we stay together or if they send me to another sector. She loves to golf. She was prom queen and an officer. She always gets ready and is really pretty. She doesn't like questions, for example, explain yourself in three words. She says she explains herself as The. best. ever. She is really cool. I would hang out with her. We are having fun and getting everything done. She is teaching me a ton about being myself on the mission, and not just fitting to my companion to avoid conflict. It is helping me a ton. I love her, that wise older missionary. 

This week was the ground breaking or La Primera Palada for the  Concepciòn temple. We watched it on satellite from the Stake Center in San Pedro. Elder Gonzalez our area Seventy President said the prayer. also another seventy Elder Teixera was there. It was beautiful. They made a video that showed a bunch of our mission. if you can find it on lds.org. It is awesome. I tried but maybe the groundbreaking isn't on there. President Bluth got to shovel out some of the ground. One day on pday we're gonna go see the temple sight. 

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/concepcion-temple-groundbreaking/2015/10?lang=spa

"Holiness to the Lord is written on every Temple of God. We need to live in a way that we have Holiness to the Lord written on us." -Hermana Teixera  (that isn't a direct quote) 

"Keeping even the smallest commitments with our fellow man prepares us to keep Covenants with the Lord -Elder Gonzalez"

Our mission president - President & Hermana Bluth (far left) were able to speak & participate in the groundbreaking.

This week we saw some miracles. We get lost a lot in our sector because we do not have maps that you can read, the type is too small. So we're gonna get some today. But we found some new people this week. Whenever I used to watch Meet the Mormons I always got so emotional when I saw the part about the woman who had a baby when she was 16 and she lived in the street. We taught a woman who was in the same situation yesterday. It was a cool experience. I felt like that was the reason I always felt the spirit so strong during that movie. 

We gave one of our investigators a tour of the church, and showed him the baptismal font. It was fun. We also have an investigator who is living with a member she is going to marry him the first week of December and then be baptized. We are going to help her get ready, I am so excited.

                                              Our Chapel

I am finishing the Book of Mormon in Spanish and I am so happy about it. I was reading it a bunch this week. My comp was like you need to not read that in the streets, oops. 

We taught a miracle lesson. We went to a member's house for lunch and her husband isn't a member. He came and watched conference with us and that never happens! It was a miracle his wife said. I know this is really the Work of the Lord. 

Ow. So, there's new? You left the one who took you for granted then you found someone new. Hmmmkay. I know her already. You two don't look good. Yea, honestly speaking. If you don't mind... why not me?